THEY say marriage can be the golden years of your life and for Brian and Helen Shorten, this saying rings true.
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For 50 years, the couple have lived life to the fullest, but also endured a whole world of challenges, including Helen's public battle with breast cancer.
Their marriage, or the beginning of it anyway, wasn't a fairytale by any means either.
“We met at a Footscray Technical School dance during the 60s,” Helen said.
“We were introduced to each other by a couple of friends and not long after that we were engaged.”
On September 20, 1969, the couple were set to wed at Holy Trinity Anglican Church in Williamstown, but the day didn't go off without a few hiccups along the way.
“A week before the wedding, Brian was playing in a football grand final,” she said.
“During the game he was knocked and landed on his arm, shattering the bones and this left him in a full arm cast.”
Brian spent a few days in hospital before making it out to prepare for the wedding, but this wasn't the only setback the couple faced.
“The beautiful church was right next to a housing estate and a couple of boys were playing football right before we were about to get married,” she said.
“One of them kicked the ball, hit me in the back of the head and then proceeded to run over my veil and I could have sworn I had a bald patch on the back of my head.”
But these ordeals haven't stopped the couple from having a long and happy marriage.
“He's my best friend and I think that's our secret,” Helen said.
“I may do all the talking, but I can tell him anything and I couldn't imagine life without him.”
The couple moved from Melbourne to Echuca in 2003 and have never looked back.
“We love the area, we wouldn't think of living anywhere else,” Helen said.
Helen and Brian travelled to celebrate their special day in Melbourne with their their two children and five grand children by their side.